# List of World Heritage Sites in Sudan

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the point of view of science, conservation, or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage. Sudan accepted the convention on 6 June 1974. There are three World Heritage Sites in Sudan, with a further 15 on the tentative list.
The first site to be listed to in Sudan was Jebel Barkal and its associated sites in 2003. The site of Meroë were listed in 2011 and the site Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Marine National Park in 2016. The latter is a natural site while the first two are listed for their cultural significance. Sudan has served one term on the World Heritage Committee.

## World Heritage Sites

UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural.
World Heritage Sites :
| Site | Location (state) | Year listed | UNESCO data | Description |
| Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region | Northern | 2003 | 1073; i, ii, iii, iv, vi (cultural) | The archaeological area in Nubia comprises sites from the Napatan (900 to 270 BCE) and Meroitic (270 BCE to 350 CE) cultures of the Kingdom of Kush. Jebel Barkal (pictured) with the Temple of Amun at its foot was considered a sacred mountain. Monuments include temples, tombs, palaces, residential buildings, and Nubian pyramids, which have steep angles and decorated sides. Some aspects of burial practices remained in use until the introduction of Christianity in the 6th century. |
| Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe | River Nile | 2011 | 1336; ii, iii, iv, v (cultural) | This site comprises three archaeological sites on the Island of Meroë between the Nile and the Atbarah River: the city of Meroë and the settlements of Musawwarat es-Sufra and Naqa. Meroë was the capital of the Kingdom of Kush, a major power from the 8th century BCE to the 4th century CE. During the Third Intermediate Period of Egypt, Kushite pharaohs ruled Egypt as the Twenty-fifth Dynasty (754 BCE–656 BCE). The kingdom declined with the arrival of Christianity in the 6th century. Monuments include several Nubian pyramids (pictured), temples, tombs, and residential buildings. The architecture reflects the interaction of cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. |
| Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Marine National Park | Red Sea | 2016 | 262rev; vii, ix, x (natural) | This site comprises two marine and coastal areas in the Red Sea. Sanganeb is an isolated atoll with some of the world's northernmost coral reef systems. Dungonab Bay with Mukkawar Island has coral reefs, mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and intertidal mudflats. It is home to an important population of endangered dugongs. Other animals that live in the area include manta rays, sea turtles, sharks, and dolphins. There are numerous endemic reef fish species. The area is also important for migratory birds. |

## Tentative list

In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list. Sudan maintains 15 properties on its tentative list.